The Make it Smart Hub continued its support for SME as it undertook study on local wool insulation in offsite panel project 

7-22 Systems Ltd is an ecological construction start-up business, based in the Southern Isles of the Outer Hebrides. It has been formed by experienced Uist-based Architects, in response to the practical and design challenges of delivering best value, high quality, environmentally sustainable buildings. 

7-22 Systems Ltd have been developing a unique pre-insulated Offsite panelized solution for many years and been prototyping for the last 6 months. Currently aimed at the modular self-build market for remote locations, the system has been designed for 2 people to be able to lift and build on a pier foundation which uses 50% less concrete. The panels are made from prefabricated floor, wall and roof components with blown-insulation applied as part of the prefabrication process.  

Having worked with Make it Smart Hub to undertake some prototype testing on the CNC Machine they wished to engage around the development of their sustainable insulation material to go inside the panels. As an insulation choice, they were looking to use a material that was locally sourced, so they looked towards one of the Scotland’s more highly produced natural materials: wool. As crofters, based in Uist with their own flocks, they were aware that there are various different types of breeds of sheep on the nearby Isle of Lewis.  
 

Photo: Sheep from local wood supplier Uist Wool, courtesy of 7-22 Systems

They sought to find out more about the viability of using sheep’s wool as insulation, and the variance between sourcing different kinds of wool, and so sought to use the HeatFlow meter to test several different breeds of wool to experiment with the most thermally efficient material. They sourced wool from local supplier Uist Wool. This is a sustainable material which can be tested through the utilisation of the AMCF equipment and will support 7-22 to develop their product. 

The project used the expertise within the technical team at BE-ST as well as the HeatFlow meter in the factory at Blantyre. The team built testing cassettes with various thicknesses of the sheep’s wool to test the effects on thermal performance. These results will enable 7-22 to make further decisions on testing and certification investment.